So then, says Tom Moehringer, there are two things you can do about February in Cincinnati: Sit around and whine about how gray and miserable it is, or get out there and party like crazy.

        He does the latter. Consistently. Moehringer, recall, is the Cincinnatian who hates February so much he calls it the “F Month” — among other things much less charitable — and tries to cheer it up by organizing floating happy hours at bars all over town every Friday in the month. He's been doing it for several years.

        “Because winter and Cincinnati are two words that go together like slit and wrists,” he says, “you need to get out and do something or you'll go off the deep end.”

        Hence the ever popular “Get Happy, Dammit” happy hours. In mid- to late January he sends out about 75 e-mails to past participants, always encouraging them to bring new friends, listing the theme and the year's four bars. About 50 people usually show up, but not the same 50 every week.

        This year's theme is six degrees — or less — separation from a dead U.S. president. So far, happy hours have been at Jefferson Hall and Jack Quinn's.

        Coming up: Friday at Mount Adams' City View Tavern (two degrees to John Adams, but you have to go to find out how) and Feb. 22 at Silverton Cafe (two degrees to George Washington, but you still gotta go).

        The beauty of these things, Moehringer says just about every year, is that you meet a ton of new people, and it doesn't matter whether you come in a group or alone. Everyone is out to have fun and beat the February blahs, so there's an instant link and lots of chatter.

        F Month happy hours start at 5:30 p.m. and go 'til whenever someone gulps the last gulp.

        Hot stuff: Herewith an ever-so-convenient double-whammy of a night: A trip to a very hot new restaurant/bar and a chance to raise some money, too.

        The bar here is Hamburger Mary's (909 Vine St.), a West Coast franchise run here by Cincinnatian Peter Lafoon, a former stockbroker type who decided to try the bar business for fun and giggles.

        He's having them. Bigtime. A couple of weeks ago he threw a junk party where guests were asked to bring a piece of junk from home to help decorate the place. That stuff is all over the walls, ledges and tables now. Then Tuesday, he threw a Marys Gras party and draped the place in a zillion or so miles of green, gold and purple swag.

        Now this: Tonight he throws a Red, Hot and Flaming Party for Valentine's Day, complete with a swimwear fashion show — because we need something a little sunny here in February — tarot readings, a Valentine's photo booth, a Lovers' Drink menu — potent stuff, these babies — dancing cheek-to-cheek and a ton of food.

        It's an AIDs Volunteers of Cincinnati benefit, but it's only $35 a pop and that covers everything. Call 861-3522.

        Oh, and if the name Lafoon sounds familiar, it's because Peter is the uncle of Coley Lafoon, the Cincinnati videographer who married Anne Heche. They're expecting their first baby later this month.

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